Notice: Function _load_textdomain_just_in_time was called incorrectly. Translation loading for the media-library-assistant domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /customers/8/6/5/powerofmetal.dk/httpd.www/newsite/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6114 Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /customers/8/6/5/powerofmetal.dk/httpd.www/newsite/wp-includes/functions.php:6114) in /customers/8/6/5/powerofmetal.dk/httpd.www/newsite/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1893 Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /customers/8/6/5/powerofmetal.dk/httpd.www/newsite/wp-includes/functions.php:6114) in /customers/8/6/5/powerofmetal.dk/httpd.www/newsite/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1893 Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /customers/8/6/5/powerofmetal.dk/httpd.www/newsite/wp-includes/functions.php:6114) in /customers/8/6/5/powerofmetal.dk/httpd.www/newsite/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1893 Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /customers/8/6/5/powerofmetal.dk/httpd.www/newsite/wp-includes/functions.php:6114) in /customers/8/6/5/powerofmetal.dk/httpd.www/newsite/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1893 Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /customers/8/6/5/powerofmetal.dk/httpd.www/newsite/wp-includes/functions.php:6114) in /customers/8/6/5/powerofmetal.dk/httpd.www/newsite/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1893 Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /customers/8/6/5/powerofmetal.dk/httpd.www/newsite/wp-includes/functions.php:6114) in /customers/8/6/5/powerofmetal.dk/httpd.www/newsite/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1893 Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /customers/8/6/5/powerofmetal.dk/httpd.www/newsite/wp-includes/functions.php:6114) in /customers/8/6/5/powerofmetal.dk/httpd.www/newsite/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1893 Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /customers/8/6/5/powerofmetal.dk/httpd.www/newsite/wp-includes/functions.php:6114) in /customers/8/6/5/powerofmetal.dk/httpd.www/newsite/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1893 {"id":10833,"date":"2016-09-05T01:00:45","date_gmt":"2016-09-04T23:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/powerofmetal.dk\/?p=10833"},"modified":"2016-09-05T01:00:45","modified_gmt":"2016-09-04T23:00:45","slug":"devin-townsend-project-transcendence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsite.powerofmetal.dk\/reviews\/devin-townsend-project-transcendence","title":{"rendered":"Devin Townsend Project – Transcendence"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m a simple man in a lot of ways.\u00a0 Tell me that Devin Townsend<\/strong> is releasing new material, in whatever project he\u2019s currently pouring his immense talent into, and I get excited.\u00a0 This excitement stems from a ridiculously consistent resume of recordings that dates back over twenty years at this point.\u00a0 And within all the different projects he creates or lends himself to, he never goes into music with less than a hundred percent dedication and effort.\u00a0 This is why his fan base is so dedicated, and at the same time, passionate as hell about anything he delves into.<\/p>\n

For me, while his previous Devin Townsend Project<\/strong> album \u201cSky Blue<\/strong>\u201d (part of a double-album set along with \u201cDark Matters<\/em>\u201d) left a bit to be desired in terms of consuming my attention, I was hoping that this small dip in continuity for myself was remedied in the future.\u00a0 I will admit that I became worried that Townsend<\/strong> had hit his creative limit with the band.<\/p>\n

I walked into \u201cTranscendence<\/strong>\u201d with some hesitancy and nervousness in a sense that his incredible creative streak had suffered a bit of a blow, or at worst, had come to a halt.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0And if you add to this thought that this album almost never happened, then it becomes that much more important of a release.\u00a0 The mastermind himself had felt that the band had run it\u2019s course.\u00a0 But the solution to this was for Townsend to step back a tad from his DIY attitude to making music with this group.\u00a0 While his vision is still there, he takes the massive blueprint and allows other members of the group to add their own sketches to help make the machine that much more efficient.\u00a0 It\u2019s more of a band effort than any of the other albums, and this information is important in realizing that a huge step for the self-admitted control freak could very well breathe new life into the band, and pay dividends when the album is finally put to bed.<\/p>\n

When I started up the album, I immediately got d\u00e9j\u00e0-vu with hearing the terrific album opener of \u201cInfinity<\/strong>\u201d being transferred into the same position on this new album.\u00a0 \u201cTruth<\/strong>\u201d is a rework that stays true in a lot of ways to the original (no pun intended), while coming across as almost more grand and opulent than the original.\u00a0 I will admit that it\u2019s a bit bizarre to me that he starts out his new album with the opener of an almost 20-year old album.\u00a0 I almost expected to hear \u201cChristeen<\/strong>\u201d start right after, so this will take some time for me to adjust to when I listen to this album.\u00a0 \u201cStormbending<\/strong>\u201d follows with a plodding and atmospheric drive, with emotive vocals leading into light guitar and keyboard finger-tapping.<\/p>\n

\u201cFailure<\/strong>\u201d is the first offering from this album made available to the general public, which has been met with skepticism by some, and others are left relishing in new DTP<\/strong> music.\u00a0 The naysayers have dogged the track for maybe being more relaxed and having a more laid-back approach to previous efforts, but the fans more accepting of the band\u2019s overall craft were able to hear all the beautiful melodies and little details that make the sound appealing in all possible scenarios.<\/p>\n

\u201cSecret Sciences<\/strong>\u201d has a gentle guitar\/keyboard flow in the first half of the song which gives way to Townsend\u2019s<\/strong> varied vocal style.\u00a0 The second-half goes into more epic territory with a more direct guitar style and tasteful lead guitars.\u00a0 Add the beautiful background harmonies of longtime vocal partner Anneke Van Giersbergen<\/strong> and this particular song holds up in grand fashion to anything in the band\u2019s catalogue.\u00a0 \u201cHigher<\/strong>\u201d is tailored to the fans wanting the harder edge and more technical aspects of the band\u2019s sound.\u00a0 There\u2019s lots of great shifts in sound and instrumental acrobats from all involved in this near ten minute epic.\u00a0 \u201cStars<\/strong>\u201d comes across as operatic and moving, while the title track continues where the previous song left off in some senses, but the format gives way to a powerful streamlined approach.\u00a0 The end builds to a great crescendo and then fades out lightly.<\/p>\n

\u201cOffer Your Light<\/strong>\u201d is upbeat and synth driven.\u00a0 Townsend\u2019s<\/strong> harsh vocals contrast perfectly with Van Giersbergen\u2019s<\/strong> angelic singing style.\u00a0 This song is a great jolt of adrenaline and would work well as a single for this album.\u00a0 Just a totally fun and exciting sound that\u2019s full of energy.\u00a0 And after that excitement, it\u2019s time to wind down the proceedings in a sense.\u00a0 While \u201cFrom The Heart<\/strong>\u201d starts off in the trademark \u201cwall-of-sound<\/em>\u201d approach that fans have come to expect, we\u2019re treated to a beautiful fade-out that is represented with an airy and tranquil acoustic guitar ambiance.\u00a0 Add in a cover of Ween\u2019s<\/strong> \u201cTransdermal Celebration<\/strong>\u201d which works surprisingly well as an album closer, and we\u2019ve come to the end of another monstrous affair from Townsend<\/strong> and his gang of misfits.<\/p>\n

All worries for me of another \u201cSky Blue<\/strong>\u201d have been washed away.\u00a0 I come to see this album as the band\u2019s most epic and grandiose since \u201cEpicloud<\/strong>\u201d, which is saying something.\u00a0 He\u2019s firing on all creative cylinders once again, and with what I alluded to regarding all band members now having some input in the songwriting process, it feels like the band has new life.<\/p>\n

However, if this is the final album for this band, the fans can be happy in the fact that like in all facets of Townsend\u2019s<\/strong> career, he\u2019s going to go out on his own terms, and with that comes no sacrifice to his legacy and craft.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tracklist:<\/strong><\/p>\n

01. Truth
\n02. Stormbending
\n03. Failure
\n04. Secret Sciences
\n05. Higher
\n06. Stars
\n07. Transcendence
\n08. Offer Your Light
\n09. From The Heart
\n10. Transdermal Celebration<\/p>\n

Playing time:<\/strong> 64:16<\/p>\n

Release date:<\/strong> 9 September, 2016<\/p>\n

Label:<\/strong> Inside Out Music<\/p>\n

Website:<\/strong> Devin Townsend Official Website<\/a><\/p>\n